You Can Now Drink Beer On A Bicycle Built For 16 In Milwaukee

Even though pedal taverns — bikes built to shuttle groups on pub
crawls — look like bars on wheels, in most states it's illegal to
have alcohol on board these
increasingly popular vehicles.

Pedal pubs in Boulder, Colo., and San Diego, Calif., prohibit
drinking on them, while one in Seattle, Wash., only allows
it if the group obtains a banquet permit from the
Washington Liquor Control board.

But as of Jan. 1, a new law took effect in Milwaukee, Wisc., that
adds commercial quadricycles to the list of public places where
people can consume alcohol,
the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. Each person can have
36 ounces of a fermented malt beverage, but not hard
liquor, during the ride from bar to bar. While every rider can
pedal the bike, two sober employees steer and
break.

In states like Wisconsin, where beer is such a big part of the
culture, Milwaukee's Pedal Tavern founders Derek Collins
and Ryan Lloyd argued allowing customers to bring beer on board
would increase tourism.

"When people come for the tour, they often come up from other
cities or states and do dinner and drinks as well," Collins told
the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Pedal taverns already draw huge tourist crowds in Nashville
and Houston, where riders can bring their own beer as long as
it's not in a glass container. There are also pedal pubs in
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., that allows wine in boxes or
plastic bottles.

As the state by state debate continues over how to license and
permit pedal taverns, public officials in Wisconsin have warned
it's not all fun and games. The bikes have received noise
complaints and concern about public safety.